Attacking the Resource Curse: Are Ghanaians Huge Expectations on the Oil and Gas Production Real?

The aim of the study is to review Ghanaians huge perceptions and dependence on the oil and gas resources especially residence of Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis and the surrounding communities. The study will provide a credible data in policy-making process on the allocation of the oil and gas resources that will improve the living standards of citizens. It will also educate the inhabitants of the resources base on the problems of natural resources to minimize conflict and other social vices. The methodology adopted for the research is participatory poverty assessment. Some questionnaire and personal interviews were used to gather the data. About 200 participants took part in answering the questionnaire and expressing their views. Simple percentages were adopted as the data handling techniques to analyze the data collected. The major findings from the survey were that the oil and gas revenue can help to reduce poverty and create wealth for Ghanaians. The result also indicated that the poor road network in the Western Region, which has been abandoned, will be improved and accessible. The members were optimistic that if there is real accountability and transparency among the various stakeholders, Ghana can avoid the resource curse known as the “Dutch Disease”. Keywords: Ghana, gas, oil, participatory, poverty, resource curs

A Review of Workplace Conflicts and Employee Performance in Tamale Metropolitan Assembly of Northern Region, Ghana

The study investigated the effects of workplace conflict on employee performance at the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly from where a sample of 194 was drawn. The study adopted descriptive research design. Data was collected with questionnaires, analyzed with SPSS version 26 and the results presented in tables, interpreted and discussed. Results showed that workplace conflicts in TMA were largely interpersonal. Poor communication was rated the highest cause of the conflicts. Negative effects of the conflicts include: reduction of morale of workers, creation of tension and anxiety that weakens abilities of employees to work well, lack of essential information needed for effective job delivery, delayed delivery of assignments and project failures. Positive outcomes of the conflicts are that: they increase employees’ creativity and innovation towards doing things, strengthen bonds and improve relationships when well-managed, they bring on board effective and efficient utilization of scarce resources in the Assembly emanating from best decisions. The study concluded that the overall effect of conflicts in TMA on employees’ performance is negative; resulting in non-optimization of employees’ output. The study recommended that the Assembly should allow free flow of information by improving communication to establish problems facing employees and to promptly address them. Keywords: Organization, Workplace, Conflicts, Performance, Outcomes DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/14-16-01 Publication date:August 31st 202

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Bangladesh: A Cointegration Analysis

This paper investigates the long-run relationship between GDP and FDI in Bangladesh for a period of 42 years ranges from 1972 to 2013 by using time series econometric technique. The empirical results show that there is a significant positive correlation between GDP and FDI. The results also show that FDI and GDP are cointegrated in the long-run. For the supplement of the results of cointegration analysis, this study also examine the causal relationships by using Granger causality test and find strong evidence for unidirectional causality running between GDP through FDI in the long run. Keywords: FDI, GDP, Unit Root, Cointegration, Granger Causality

Challenges of Online Learning Environment Faced by Undergraduate Medical Students During Covid 19 Pandemic

Objective: This study aimed to define the challenges faced by medical students rotating in the orthopedics department and their suggestions regarding improvement during covid-19 pandemic. Study Design: A mixed method cross sectional study design. Place and Duration of Study: It was conducted on 4 and 5 year MBBS students at Shifa college of Medicine with clerkship rotation in the department of orthopedics from 16 March 2020 to 23 August 2021. Materials and Methods: Students were enquired about their comfort levels while using the internet and computer for online sessions. Data was collected through an online questionnaire and analyzed using Google forms. Frequencies, percentages, and standard deviations were calculated for qualitative variables. Results: Out of 147 study participants, 64(43.4%) students strongly agreed that they had no difficulty and were extremely comfortable using internet and computer during covid-19 pandemic. Eighty-five (58%) students used online available reading material shared on Google classrooms and what's app groups. While only 23(16%) agreed to concentrate during online sessions. One hundred and eighteen (80%) agreed with a lesser desire to study for online classes as compared to on campus. Major problems faced by the students during the pandemic included very limited patient centered learning, limited hands-on experience, less interactive sessions, problems with internet connections, technology handling and class timing issues due to time zone differences. Conclusion: We conclude that our students faced lot of challenges during Covid-19 pandemic including internet issues, lack of awareness of technology, distractions because of family, siblings and homely environment and lack of conducive learning environment like learning at bedside. Flexible class timings, multiple breaks, recorded lectures and online interaction of real patients can improve online clinical learning

Improvement of renal oxidative stress markers after ozone administration in diabetic nephropathy in rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) e.g. nephropathy (DN) have been linked to oxidative stress. Ozone, by means of oxidative preconditioning, may exert its protective effects on DN.</p> <p>Aim</p> <p>The aim of the present work is to study the possible role of ozone therapy in ameliorating oxidative stress and inducing renal antioxidant defence in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Six groups (n = 10) of male Sprague Dawley rats were used as follows: Group C: Control group. Group O: Ozone group, in which animals received ozone intraperitoneally (i.p.) (1.1 mg/kg). Group D: Diabetic group, in which DM was induced by single i.p. injections of streptozotocin (STZ). Group DI: Similar to group D but animals also received subcutaneous (SC) insulin (0.75 IU/100 gm BW.). Group DO: In which diabetic rats received the same dose of ozone, 48 h after induction of diabetes. Group DIO, in which diabetic rats received the same doses of insulin and ozone, respectively. All animals received daily treatment for six weeks. At the end of the study period (6 weeks), blood pressure, blood glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA_1c), serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), kidney tissue levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxide (GPx), aldose reductase (AR) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration were measured.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Induction of DM in rats significantly elevated blood pressure, HbA_1c, BUN, creatinine and renal tissue levels of MDA and AR while significantly reducing SOD, CAT and GPx activities. Either Insulin or ozone therapy significantly reversed the effects of DM on all parameters; in combination (DIO group), they caused significant improvements in all parameters in comparison to each alone.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Ozone administration in conjunction with insulin in DM rats reduces oxidative stress markers and improves renal antioxidant enzyme activity which highlights its potential uses in the regimen for treatment of diabetic patients.</p

STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES; INSIGHTS FROM HOTELS IN THE UPPER WEST REGION, GHANA

The study “Strategic Human Resource Management Practices; Insights from Hotels in the Upper West Region of Ghana” examines strategic human resource management practices and their contribution to hotel growth and development in the Upper West Region. The Resource Based View was the theory used in the study. In addition, two broad types of data, secondary and primary data, were used in the study. Questionnaire Administration and Key Informant Interviews were the methods used to collect the data from respondents. Findings revealed that SHRM practices such as selection and recruitment, training and development, appraisal, teamwork, and promotion are practices hotels in the Upper West Region utilise to enhance their organisational performance. Therefore, it is recommended that the management of hotels should prioritise human resource development, focusing on recruitment of qualified personnel, training and benchmarking of standard practice. Keywords: Human Resource, Management, Training, Hotels, development, Organizational, Performance

Combinatoric Drag–Pattern-Graphical-Password (DPGP)

Creating secure password has been limited attributable to password restriction and policy. Users tend to choose memorable passwords that are easy to guess. However, sophisticated systems assigned passwords that are difficult to remember. In this paper, the focus will be on the Drag–pattern-Graphical-Password (DPGP). DPGP password is proposed technique of protecting systems with a password that combines drag button technique, pattern and text-based password authentication. The purpose is to create more secure password and somewhat easy to remember but difficult to hack. A relevant usability of authentication systems is to assist users of selection strong password, therefore improving security by augmenting the effectiveness of passwords encryption. However, with the most secure system, Users are often seen as the weakest point of the system, willing to circumvent security policies in order to access their work faster, users don’t really pay attention to the strength of their password. Thus, to build infallible authentication system, we use persuasion to influence users’ choice with Drag–pattern-Graphical-Password (DPGP) engaging them to select more random characters, hence difficult to guess

Infantile Spasms: Clinical profile and treatment outcomes

Background and Objective: Infantile spasm (IS) is one of the severe epileptic encephalopathies which affect children in early two years of life. Our objective was to determine the clinical profile, etiology and outcome of treatment in children with infantile spasms attending tertiary care hospital at Karachi, Pakistan. Methods: This is retrospective study of 36 patients out of 94 registered as IS, aged three months to two years, managed and followed up at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from 2010 to 2015. Data of all children with IS was collected from case record. Details including clinical observations, lab investigations, anti-epileptic medications and treatment outcome was collected and analyzed. Patients who received treatment for six weeks to document response were included. The treatment response was categorized as complete response, partial response (\u3e50% improvement) and no response. Data was analyzed on SPSS using descriptive statistics. Results: Thirty-six patients (38.29%) with IS fulfilled eligibility criteria. The mean ± SD age at presentation was 4.6±2.1 months. Male to female ratio was 2:1. Consanguinity and developmental motor delay was observed in 66.6% and 89% respectively. Symptomatic etiology was predominant (61%) and hypoxic ischemic insult (32%) was the commonest underlying cause. EEG and MRI were diagnostic tools whereas metabolic studies were not helpful. Multiple antiepileptic drugs were used for seizure control and vigabatrin was the most frequently used (88%) drug. Short term treatment response was not different in idiopathic or symptomatic infantile spasms. Conclusion: Majority of patients had symptomatic infantile spasms and generalized tonic clonic along with myoclonic jerks were predominant seizure types. EEG and MRI were diagnostic in most of cases. Multiple AEDs were required to control seizures and VGB was most common drug (88%) used. Treatment outcome was not different in idiopathic and symptomatic groups

Referral profile of developmental disabilities at a tertiary care hospital in a resource-limited country

The burden and the spectrum of neuro-developmental disabilities are well-established in the developed countries, however, they continue to be a challenge in the Low Middle-Income Countries. The aim of this study was to present the referral profile and trends of developmental disabilities in the child development centre of The Agha khan University, from 2012 to 2021. All children (1 month to 18 years), who had undergone diagnostic evaluations for suspected neurodevelopmental disabilities were included. A total of 1340 children were evaluated at the centre. The mean age of the children at the presentation was 5.4 ± 3.0 years. Male to female ratio was 3:1. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was the most common diagnosis (n=446, 33.3%). This study highlights a considerable burden and an increasing trend of children being referred for suspected developmental disabilities in Pakista